Sep 27 2007
Did Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cat Really Destroy The Score To Phantom Of The Opera II?
You may have already heard that Andrew Lloyd Webber is working on a sequel to The Phantom Of The Opera - The Phantom Of Manhattan. You may also have heard the tale that Andrew’s cat destroyed the entire score by messing up the computer the score was stored on.
As soon as I heard that tale, I was slightly suspicious…I mean, isn’t the music in his head? Didn’t he have print-outs of the music? I find it hard to believe that one can compose an entire score and lose it all with the click of a button. Well, looks like I was right to be suspicious…
According to this interview, there is only a “tiny bit of truth” to the cat tale. Andrew says that “the music I’d written was not really lost because I have it in my head”.
Sad thing though…the mischievous cat met its fate on the road several days later.
Cute. LOL. I hope he does write a sequel, though. I’m somewhat tired of the original now. I loved it when I was younger, but when I saw it on Broadway last fall I hated it because the sets were cheesy and the acting and singing was only so so. I love the movie, though. There is a book called “Phantom of Manhattan” that I once read. It’s a beautiful sequel. I wonder if Webber is basing the sequel on that.
I think the Phantom of the Opera is better left un-sequeled, It is so good and a classic and it doesn’t need a second show.
I wouldn’t mind seeing a sequel done movie wise, but I’m unsure about a musical sequel. Like I said before, I love the book “Phantom in Manhattan” so I’m open to anything. In truth, I think the musical has been on Broadway for too long and has been overplayed. I love the music and I used to love the show. I think the movie is the best version out there currently just because the show itself has sunk so low. When I saw it last fall the sets and timing were badly done and very cheesy and the acting and singing was only so so. I would rather preserve my original feelings about the show than see it ruined in my mind. After all, it’s a beautiful story and has beautiful music. Has anyone seen the other version called “Phantom”?
There are actually several versions of POTO. I have only seen the Andrew Lloyd Webber one. The sequel is to be based (loosely, I think) on the book Phantom Of Manhattan.
I’m glad to hear that if he is making a sequel it will be based on the book. However, I’m almost certain that it won’t do as well as the original. Sequels never do as well. But Webber writes wonderful music, so I’ll look forward to the new composition. I haven’t read much lately about Webber. His last few shows weren’t as popular as some of his classics, were they?
P.S. I saw some interesting news on Broadway.com today: In London there will be a musical version of “Gone with the Wind.” I hope they bring it to NYC. It also might be worth noting that Legally Blonde is going to be broadcast mid October on MTV.